Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The following are some frequently asked questions. If you have other questions, please feel free to call us or email us on the Contact Us page.
How is a Telehealth visit conducted?
Telehealth visits use either videoconferencing program or phone calls to deliver the physiotherapy program on line, on the phone and at distance. We use a secure, encrypted videoconferencing platform to assess and treat your injury. Treatment includes prescription of exercises, counselling about home based modalities, and education about the healing of your condition. Helping with motivation and giving tools for self management are huge benefits to this type of a program.
Although we are not able to provide hands on treatment at this time, we believe that consistency of support, progression of exercises and activation is helpful to keep our clients moving well and feeling well.
What happens during the first visit & how long will it last?
The first visit will be spent discussing your physical injury / condition and how it has been affecting you. The affected area will then be assessed, as well as surrounding ones which may be impacted. Once this has been done, a treatment plan will be formulated. The physiotherapist will be able to demonstrate and advise you on the type of exercises which will address the affected area and ways of minimizing further injury. The initial assessment typically lasts approximately 45-60 minutes, while subsequent sessions are 30-45 minutes.
What should I wear?
The most important thing is that you wear something you are comfortable and can move freely in. Shorts (for a lower leg injury) or a tank top (for upper extremity injury) can be helpful to expose the affected area.
What space and equipment will be needed?
A quiet space with some room to move would be helpful. As the videoconferencing will include the use of a camera (no recording will happen during the call), awareness of other members of your household is helpful e.g make sure others are aware that there is a camera on if they are moving into your space.
Do I need a doctor’s referral?
No, you do not require a doctor’s referral to receive our services. Insurance companies, however, sometimes require a doctor’s referral before they will reimburse cost. If you have extended health benefits that cover physiotherapy it is best that you check with your individual provider.
Is your service covered through insurance?
We can bill directly to most extended health benefit providers e.g. Blue Cross, Green Shield, Medavie Blue Cross, Sunlife. Most providers are funding telerehabilitation visits during the Covid – 19 pandemic but it may be helpful to confirm this fact (and the amount of your coverage) by contacting your extended health benefit provider.
Missed appointments and late cancellations
We appreciate that there are occasions when an appointment has to be cancelled on short notice, either due to illness or unexpected life events. We therefore ask that you contact us as soon as you know that you won’t be able to make your appointment, so that your appointment time can be made available to another patient.
*We would appreciate a minimum of 4 hour notice of cancellation, or a cancellation fee MAY be charged.